US1342002A - Safety device for railroad-crossings - Google Patents

Description

* t-ion thereof 4 The object of my invention is to pre- UNITED: STATES:

PATENT- omen CHARLES ALLEN SNYDER, 0F DUBUQUE, IOWA.

- sA'rE'rY nnvrcn ron nutnoamcnossmes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Application filed January 24, 1917. Serial No. 144,228

vent collisions, or accidents. at railroad crossings by means that will combine the qualities of simplicity, economy and efficiency, and broadly stated my invention achieves these-objects by so constructing the road, or street at or near the railroad tracks as toficompel approaching vehicles 'to travel at a" slow speed sufficiently near 2Fthe track as to enable instant stoppage, or

, a change of direction which will avoid com-. 5 in on to the track. n the accompanying draw1ngs- Figure 1 is a top plan view showing one embodiment ofmy invention;

Fig. 2 is a simil 'r vlew showing a different form, or shape of the speed controllin device; 1 A fiig. 3 is a top plan VleW showing still another form.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a portion of railroad track and 11 a roadway, or street crossing the same. On each side of the track at, or near the same, an obstruction 12 is provided in the roadway preventing a direct approach to the railroad track, to pass which the roadway is branched to provide on each side of the obstruction a sharply bent, or curved-laterally extending passage-way 13. The 010- struction 12 is preferably in the form of a .mound which may be wholly, or partially surrounded and protected by an abutment, or curb 14 of stone, or concrete and of '45 such height as to make impossible the traverse, or passage over the mound of ap preaching vehicles, so that the latter per-- force are compelled to change their direction and at sufficiently sharp angle as to' compel a reduction of speed, if at the time of approach the car, or vehicle is movmg at a speed that will be dangerous immediately at or near the railroad tracks.

Situated on the moundf or obstruction, I

65 and preferably at the point, or side nearest the approaching vehicle isj a'. warning signpost 15, Wl11Ch may be be kind ordinarily, or commonly used at railroad crossings.

- The obstruction, or mound, and the road branches about it may be angular,'as, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or round, or elliptical, as shown in 'Fig. 3, the form being such as may-be dictated by matters of appearance, or design, or the local conditions, or reuirements as to the reduction of speed.

he angular arrangement shown in 2,

where the turns are at right angles, 0 ously would be more effective than the angular arrangement shown in Fig. 1, wlfere the turns are not so abrupt, or sharp. If desired, as shown in Fig. 1, atthe angles or turns. midway of each branch, there may be a guard 16 in the form of a short wall, or fence. By branching the road, or causingflit to' pass around the obstruction on both sides,

, not only is collision of vehicles approaching each other avoided, but should a vehicle pass around the obstruction and bemoving at aspeed by the time it goes around theIobstruction that would'make it difilcult to stop to: avoid a collision with a passing train,'

suchi ehicle could continue on about the obstruction and double upon itself. -An im-v portant advantage in compelling a change of .direction of a vehicle at, or near the railroad track, is that the driver-has a better commarfil, or view of the railroad track inKthe dire tion from which. approaching trains are -oming,- such View being first down along thetrack in oneidirection as he enters the branch, and then as he makesthe turn in the branch. to reenter themain road he commands a View of the railroad track in the'opposite direction. The device in itself is a warning, or notice of nearness to a railroad track so that a driver before he reaches the device upon seeing it knows that he is approaching a railroad crossing so that its efficiency is two-fold, for it acts as. a signal, or warning, and shouldits warning effect be disregarded, then it compels running the vehicle at a speed which will prevent colof the surroundings. 1'10 Har ing thus described what I claim is- 1. A railroad crossing-lnwiil-g inthe road, or street at or near the track an obstruction, and devious passage-Ways connecting p0rtions of the road, or street on both sides of said obstruction, the opposite sides of said I. obstruction being symmetrical, and each formed on converging lines.

2. A railroadcrossinghaving in the road,

lny inventien or street at or near the track an obstruction,

and devious passage-ways connecting portions of the road, or street on both sides ofsaid obstruction, said obstruction being in the form of a monnd of substantial'area with sidesvthat extend first transversely out-.

ward andfinally. transversely inward.

In testimony that Ielaim the foregoing I have hereunto set m hand.

CHARLES ALLEN SNYDER.

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